ould be temporary—a short chapter of sacrifice before things returned to normal.
But time passed, and that temporary arrangement slowly became permanent. Each month followed the same routine. I would sit at my desk, open my banking app, and transfer $3,000 to cover the mortgage and household expenses. For a brief moment, I felt a sense of relief, knowing the house was secure. Yet that feeling quickly faded, replaced by the quiet realization that my own goals were being pushed further away. Instead of improving, the situation became more comfortable for others to depend on my support. My younger brother, Brent, especially seemed to settle into this pattern, making little effort to change his circumstances while benefiting from the stability I provided.
